Disbarred lawyer convicted of stealing more than $1.5M

The Associated Press

Posted: Jan. 10, 2018 8:00 am Updated: Jan. 10, 2018 6:49 pm

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A disbarred lawyer has been convicted of stealing more than $1.5 million overall from five clients, including the trust fund of a young boy whose father died in a workplace accident.

Joseph Talafous Jr. was convicted Wednesday on numerous counts of theft, misapplication of entrusted property and filing fraudulent state income tax returns. He faces several decades in prison when he's sentenced Feb. 16.

I guess there is more than we realize that goes on in trusts and estates than one would think. My mother mentioned one lawyer down the shore who was bilking the estates of all her friends. Yet people loved him. Joe got caught because he was probably not smart enough to get away with it. At least he gets a chance to repent. I feel badly for his wife and kids whom I used to see at swim meets.

By S.P. Sullivan | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com on May 17, 2016 at 3:58 PM, updated May 17, 2016 at 3:59 PM

TRENTON — A former Jersey City-based attorney has been indicted for stealing more than $1.5 million from clients over the course of a decade, authorities said.

Joseph J. Talafous Jr., of Toms River, allegedly targeted elderly clients and other vulnerable targets, taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from estates and trusts he oversaw, according to acting Attorney General Robert Lougy.

By S.P. Sullivan | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com on May 17, 2016 at 3:58 PM, updated May 17, 2016 at 3:59 PM

TRENTON — A former Jersey City-based attorney has been indicted for stealing more than $1.5 million from clients over the course of a decade, authorities said.

Joseph J. Talafous Jr., of Toms River, allegedly targeted elderly clients and other vulnerable targets, taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from estates and trusts he oversaw, according to acting Attorney General Robert Lougy.